Ten Days That Shook the World Part 25

President of the Council of People's Commissars, VL. ULIANOV (LENIN).

Executive of the Council of People's Commissars, V. BONCH-BRUEVITCH.

Secretary of the Council, N. GORBUNOV.

On December 3d the Council of People's Commissars resolved "to reduce the salaries of functionaries and employees in all Government inst.i.tutions and establishments, general or special, without exception."

To begin with, the Council fixed the salary of a People's Commissar at 500 rubles per month, with 100 rubles additional for each grown member of the family incapable of work....

This was the highest salary paid to any Government official....

4.

Countess Panina was arrested and brought to trial before the first Supreme Revolutionary Tribunal. The trial is described in the chapter on "Revolutionary Justice" in my forthcoming volume, "Kornilov to Brist- Litovsk." The prisoner was sentenced to "return the money, and then be liberated to the public contempt." In other words, she was set free!

5.

RIDICULE OF THE NEW ReGIME.

From Drug Naroda (Menshevik), November 18th: "The story of the 'immediate peace' of the Bolsheviki reminds us of a joyous moving-picture film.... Neratov runs-Trotzky pursues; Neratov climbs a wall, Trotzky too; Neratov dives into the water-Trotzky follows; Neratov climbs onto the roof-Trotzky right behind him; Neratov hides under the bed-and Trotzky has him! He has him! Naturally, peace is immediately signed....

"All is empty and silent at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The couriers are respectful, but their faces wear a caustic expression....

"How about arresting an amba.s.sador and signing an armistice or a Peace Treaty with him? But they are strange folk, these amba.s.sadors. They keep silent just as if they had heard nothing. Hola, hola, England, France, Germany! We have signed an armistice with you! Is it possible that you know nothing about it? Nevertheless, it has been published in all the papers and posted on all the walls. On a Bolshevik's word of honour, Peace has been signed. We're not asking much of you; you just have to write two words....

"The amba.s.sadors remain silent. The Powers remain silent. All is empty and silent in the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"'Listen,' says Robespierre-Trotzky to his a.s.sistant Marat-Uritzky, 'run over to the British Amba.s.sador's, tell him we're proposing peace!'

"'Go yourself,' says Marat-Uritzky. 'He's not receiving.'

"'Telephone him, then.'

"'I've tried. The receiver's off the hook.'

"'Send him a telegram.'

"'I did.'

"'Well, with what result?'

"Marat-Uritzky sighs and does not answer. Robespierre-Trotzky spits furiously into the corner....

"'Listen, Marat,' recommences Trotzky, after a moment. 'We must absolutely show that we're conducting an active foreign policy. How can we do that?'

"'Launch another decree about arresting Neratov,' answers Uritzky, with a profound air.

"'Marat, you're a blockhead!' cries Trotzky. All of a sudden he arises, terrible and majestic, looking at this moment like Robespierre.

"'Write, Uritzky!' he says with severity. 'Write a letter to the British amba.s.sador, a registered letter with receipt demanded. Write! I also will write! The peoples of the world await an immediate peace!'

"In the enormous and empty Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to be heard only the sound of two typewriters. With his own hands Trotzky is conducting an active foreign policy...."

6.

ON THE QUESTION OF AN AGREEMENT.

To the Attention of All Workers and All Soldiers.

November 11th, in the club of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, was held an extraordinary meeting of representatives of all the units of the Petrograd garrison.

The meeting was called upon the initiative of the Preobrazhensky and Semionovsky Regiments, for the discussion of the question as to which Socialist parties are for the power of the Soviets, which are against, which are for the people, which against, and if an agreement between them is possible.

The representatives of the Tsay-ee-kah, of the Munic.i.p.al Duma, of the Avksentiev Peasants' Soviets, and of all the political parties from the Bolsheviki to the Populist Socialists, were invited to the meeting.

After long deliberation, having heard the declarations of all parties and organisations, the meeting by a tremendous majority of votes agreed that only the Bolsheviki and the Left Socialist Revolutionaries are for the people, and that all the other parties are only attempting, under cover of seeking an agreement, to deprive the people of the conquests won in the days of the great Workers' and Peasants' Revolution of November.

Here is the text of the resolution carried at this meeting of the Petrograd garrison, by 61 votes against 11, and 12 not voting: "The garrison conference, summoned at the initiative of the Semionovsky and Preobrazhensky Regiments, on hearing the representatives of all the Socialist parties and popular organisations on the question of an agreement between the different political parties finds that: "1. The representatives of the Tasy-ee-kah, the representatives of the Bolshevik party and the Left Socialist Revolutionaries, declared definitely that they stand for a Government of the Soviets, for the decrees on Land, Peace and Workers' Control of Industry, and that upon this platform they are willing to agree with all the Socialist parties.

"2. At the same time the representatives of the other parties (Mensheviki, Socialist Revolutionaries) either gave no answer at all, or declared simply that they were opposed to the power of the Soviets and against the decrees on Land, Peace and Workers' Control.

"In view of this the meeting resolves: "'1. To express severe censure of all parties which, under cover of an agreement, wish practically to annul the popular conquests of the Revolution of November.

"2. To express full confidence in the Tsay-ee-kah and the Council of People's Commissars, and to promise them complete support.'

"At the same time the meeting deems it necessary that the comrades Left Socialist Revolutionaries should enter the People's Government."

7.

WINE "POGROMS"

It was afterward discovered that there was a regular organisation, maintained by the Cadets, for provoking rioting among the soldiers. There would be telephone messages to the different barracks, announcing that wine was being given away at such and such an address, and when the soldiers arrived at the spot an individual would point out the location of the cellar....

The Council of People's Commissars appointed a Commissar for the Fight Against Drunkenness, who, besides mercilessly putting down the wine riots, destroyed hundreds of thousands of bottles of liquor. The Winter Palace cellars, containing rare vintages valued at more than five million dollars, were at first flooded, and then the liquor was removed to Cronstadt and destroyed.

In this work the Cronstadt sailors, "flower and pride of the revolutionary forces," as Trotzky called them, acquitted themselves with iron selfdicipline....

8.

SPECULATORS.

Two orders concerning them: Council of People's Commissars.

To the Military Revolutionary Committee.

The disorganisation of the food supply created by the war, and the lack of system, is becoming to the last degree acute, thanks to the speculators, marauders and their followers on the railways, in the steams.h.i.+p offices, forwarding offices, etc.

Taking advantage of the nation's greatest misfortunes, these criminal spoliators are playing with the health and life of millions of soldiers and workers, for their own benefit.

Such a situation cannot be borne a single day longer.

The Council of People's Commissars proposes to the Military Revolutionary Committee to take the most decisive measures towards the uprooting of speculation, sabotage, hiding of supplies, fraudulent detention of cargoes, etc.

All persons guilty of such actions shall be subject, by special orders of the Military Revolutionary Committee, to immediate arrest and confinement in the prisons of Cronstadt, pending their arraignment before the Revolutionary Tribunal.

All the popular organisations are invited to cooperate in the struggle against the spoliators of food supplies.

President of the Council of People's Commissaries. V. ULIANOV (LENIN).

Accepted for execution, _Military Revolutionary Committee attached to the C. E. C. of the Soviets of W. & S. Deputies._ Petrograd, Nov. 23d, 1917.

To All Honest Citizens.

The Military Revolutionary Committee Decrees: Spoliators, marauders, speculators, are declared to be enemies of the People....

The Military Revolutionary Committee proposes to all public organisations, to all honest citizens: to inform the Military Revolutionary Committee immediately of all cases of spoliation, marauding, speculation, which become known to them.

The struggle against this evil is the business of all honest people. The Military Revolutionary Committee expects the support of all to whom the interests of the People are dear.

The Military Revolutionary Committee will be merciless in pursuit of speculators and marauders.

THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE.

Petrograd, Dec. 2d, 1917.

9.

PURISHKEVITCH's LETTER TO KALEDIN.

"The situation at Petrograd is desperate. The city is cut off from the outside world and is entirely in the power of the Bolsheviki.... People are arrested in the streets, thrown into the Neva, drowned and imprisoned without any charge. Even Burtzev is shut up in Peter-Paul fortress, under strict guard.

"The organisation at whose head I am is working without rest to unite all the officers and what is left of the yunker schools, and to arm them. The situation cannot be saved except by creating regiments of officers and yunkers. Attacking with these regiments, and having gained a first success, we could later gain the aid of the garrison troops; but without that first success it is impossible to count on a single soldier, because thousands of them are divided and terrorised by the sc.u.m which exists in every regiment. Most of the Cossacks are tainted by Bolshevik propaganda, thanks to the strange policy of General Dutov, who allowed to pa.s.s the moment when by decisive action something could have been obtained. The policy of negotiations and concessions has borne its fruits; all that is respectable is persecuted, and it is the plebe and the criminals who dominate-and nothing can be done except by shooting and hanging them.

"We are awaiting you here, General, and at the moment of your arrival, we shall advance with all the forces at our disposal. But for that we must establish some communication with you, and before all, clear up the following points: "(1) Do you know that in your name all officers who could take part in the fight are being invited to leave Petrograd on the pretext of joining you?

"(2) About when can we count on your arrival at Petrograd? We should like to know in order to coordinate our actions.

"In spite of the criminal inaction of the conscious people here, which allowed the yoke of Bolshevism to be laid upon us-in spite of the extraordinary pig-headedness of the majority of officers, so difficult to organise- we believe in spite of all that Truth is on our side, and that we shall conquer the vicious and criminal forces who say that they are acting for motives of love of country and in order to save it. Whatever comes, we shall not permit ourselves to be struck down, and shall remain firm until the end."

Purishkevitch, being brought to trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal, was given a short prison term....

10.

DECREE ON THE MONOPOLY OF ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nTS.

1. The printing of advertis.e.m.e.nts, in newspapers, books, bill-boards, kiosks, in offices and other establishments is declared to be a State monopoly.

2. Advertis.e.m.e.nts may only be published in the organs of the Provisional Workers' and Peasants' Government at Petrograd, and in the organs of local Soviets.

3. The proprietors of newspapers and advertising offices, as well as all employees of such establishments, should remain at their posts until the transfer of the advertis.e.m.e.nt business to the Government.... superintending the uninterrupted continuation of their houses, and turning over to the Soviets all private advertising and the sums received therefor, as well as all accounts and copy.

4. All managers of publications and businesses dealing with paid advertising, as well as their employees and workers, shall agree to hold a City Congress, and to join, first the City Trade Unions, and then the All-Russian Unions, to organise more thoroughly and justly the advertising business in the Soviet publications, as well as to prepare better rules for the public utility of advertising.

5. All persons found guilty of having concealed doc.u.ments or money, or having sabotaged the regulations indicated in paragraphs 3 and 4, will be punished by a sentence of not more than three years' imprisonment, and all their property will be confiscated.

6. The paid insertion of advertis.e.m.e.nts.... in private publications, or under a masqued form, will also be severely penalised.

7. Advertising offices are confiscated by the Government, the owners being ent.i.tled to compensation in cases of necessity. Small proprietors, depositors and stock-holders of the confiscated establishments will be reimbursed for all moneys held by them in the concern.

8. All buildings, officers, counters, and in general every establishment doing a business in advertising, should immediately inform the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies of its address, and proceed to the transfer of its business, under penalty of the punishment indicated in paragraph 5.

President of the Council of People's Commissars, VL. ULIANOV (LENIN).

People's Commissar for Public Instruction, A. V. LUNATCHARSKY.

Secretary of the Council, N. GORBUNOV.

11.

OBLIGATORY ORDINANCE.

1. The city of Petrograd is declared to be in a state of siege.

2. All a.s.semblies, meetings and congregations on the streets and squares are prohibited.

3. Attempts to loot wine-cellars, warehouses, factories, stores, business premises, private dwellings, etc., etc., _will be stopped by machine-gun fire without warning._ 4. House Committees, doormen, janitors and Militiamen are charged with the duty of keeping strict order in all houses, courtyards and in the streets, and house-doors and carriage-entrances must be locked at 9 o'clock in the evening, and opened at 7 o'clock in the morning. After 9 o'clock in the evening only tenants may leave the house, under strict control of the House Committees.

5. Those guilty of the distribution, sale or purchase of any kind of alcoholic liquor, and also those guilty of the violation of sections 2 and 4, will be immediately arrested and subjected to the most severe punishment.

Petrograd, 6th of December, 3 o'clock in the night.

_Committee to Fight Against Pogroms, attached to the Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies._ 12.

TWO PROCLAMATIONS.

Lenin, To the People of Russia: "Comrades workers, soldiers, peasants-all toilers!

"The Workers' and Peasants' Revolution has won at Petrograd, at Moscow.... From the Front and the villages arrive every day, every hour, greetings to the new Government.... The victory of the Revolution.... is a.s.sured, seeing that it is sustained by the majority of the people.

"It is entirely understandable that the proprietors and the capitalists, the employees and functionaries closely allied with the bourgeoisic-in a word, all the rich and all those who join hands with them-regard the new Revolution with hostility, oppose its success, threaten to halt the activity of the banks, and sabotage or obstruct the work of other establishments.... Every conscious worker understands perfectly that we cannot avoid this hostility, because the high officials have set themselves against the People and do not wish to abandon their posts without resistance. But the working cla.s.ses are not for one moment afraid of that resistance. The majority of the people are for us. For us are the majority of the workers and the oppressed of the whole world. We have justice on our side. Our ultimate victory is certain.

"The resistance of the capitalists and high officials will be broken. No one will be deprived of his property without a special law on the nationalisation of banks and financial syndicates. This law is in preparation. Not a worker will lose a single kopek; on the contrary, he will be a.s.sisted. Without at this moment establis.h.i.+ng the new taxes, the new Government considers one of its primary duties to make a severe accounting and control on the reception of taxes decreed by the former regime....

"Comrades workers! Remember that you yourselves direct the Government. No one will help you unless you organise yourselves and take into your own hands the affairs of the State. Your Soviets are now the organs of governmental power.... Strengthen them, establish a severe revolutionary control, pitilessly crush the attempts at anarchy on the part of drunkards, brigands, counter-revolutionary yunkers and Kornilovists.